IGN Backtracks on 9/10 Dragon Age: Veilguard Review

As BioWare’s Dragon Age: The Veilguard stumbles into the spotlight, IGN’s initial 9/10 rating—a score many of us saw as suspiciously inflated—now looks more like a promotional favor than an honest review. IGN’s article by Matt Purslow, “Dragon Age: The Veilguard Is at War With Itself,” steps back from the initial hype, recognizing major flaws that fans have been pointing out all along. It’s as if IGN has shifted from singing the game's praises to cautiously admitting its disjointed nature, without fully acknowledging the game's fundamental shortcomings.

IGN subtly acknowledges that The Veilguard is struggling with an identity crisis. While fans hoped for a rich RPG experience honoring Dragon Age’s legacy, The Veilguard seems focused on flashy combat and shallow action mechanics, neglecting character depth and player choices. The narrative, instead of building on the groundwork laid by Inquisition, dives into disjointed themes, sidelining beloved characters and creating a storyline that feels more like a soft reboot than a sequel. IGN hints at the awkwardness of Veilguard’s direction but dances around the deeper issues that are causing fans’ disappointment.

An odd example is the name itself, “Veilguard”—a term that’s never even mentioned in the game’s lengthy campaign. The last-minute branding choice mirrors the game’s chaotic development cycle and feels emblematic of BioWare’s departure from its roots. The decision to pivot toward an action-heavy, linear gameplay experience while downplaying the series’ classic RPG elements has further alienated long-time fans who expected meaningful choices, rich dialogue, and world-altering decisions.

IGN cautiously points to The Veilguard's flaws, like the “linear-ish level design” and lack of character interaction, but stops short of outright calling it a failure. Long-time character Varric, for example, is confined to background dialogue, offering players none of the engaging exchanges fans loved in previous entries. Instead of creating meaningful connections, the game’s approach feels more like a flashy action title that has sacrificed its soul to cater to mainstream trends.

As IGN and the gaming industry start recalibrating their opinions, it’s clear that The Veilguard isn’t resonating with its core audience. With BioWare's recent track record of underwhelming releases, this game risks solidifying their reputation as a studio that has lost touch with fans' expectations. The lackluster response to The Veilguard could very well mark a turning point for BioWare, showing that fans won’t settle for shallow action in place of the deep storytelling that once defined the studio.